Goal: Help Yelky Perez, an illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic, stay in America to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming a surgeon

The Deferred Action Program, an opportunity for illegal immigrants brought into the United States as children, is a beam of hope for millions. It is just one of many ways President Barack Obama has shown his empathy and compassion through immigration reform for people that many would be content to ignore. For Yelky Perez, it is the answer to a lifelong prayer. Since she illegally immigrated to America when she was 13 years old, the possibility of deportation has been a looming threat. Though she quickly learned English and excelled in school, her status as an illegal immigrant has prevented her from achieving all that she has hoped for and so the American Dream has proven to be close for her, but just out of reach.

Perez’ luck changed when the Deferred Action Program was recently announced to begin accepting applications on August 15th. The program could benefit over 50,000 youth immigrants, a number that accounts for approximately two percent of high school graduates today. Deferred Action will provide many of these children an opportunity to stay an extra two years in the U.S. with a work permit, and it also gives them assurance that they will not be deported and torn from their families during this time. As long as they were under the age of sixteen when they arrived in America, they are eligible to send in an application.

When Yelky Perez heard this news, she sat by her computer and refreshed the screen until the application appeared on the internet. Perez, now 20, excelled in school and was nominated valedictorian of her high school class. For a long time, she had hoped to be a surgeon but gave up the dream due to the difficulties of an illegal status and the ever-present threat of deportation. “I actually was ready to kind of just plan my life with my $300 pay a week,” she said of her low-paying job, the only one she could acquire despite her intelligence and drive to succeed. For others like Perez, success in America is impossible without help from administrative reform. Because of this reform, Perez can dream once more of attending medical school.

Today, the only people opposed to helping brilliant immigrant students succeed in this country are those who feel a strange entitlement to this land. While most understand that America welcomes people from every nation, many will continue to fight immigration reform in order to maintain a delusion of what America should look like. Support administrative reform to provide illegal immigrants with a work permit, thus allowing millions of brilliant and motivated people from around the world to become a part of our country, and ask that Yelky Perez be specifically accepted into the Deferred Action Program.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Administrators of the Deferred Action Program,

Yelky Perez is the exactly the kind of motivated and intelligent student who deserves more than anything to be accepted into this program. She represents the dedication of millions of immigrants to learn the English language and drive to succeed in a society that required patience and acclimation. She has worked long and hard to become a contributing member of this country, and to provide her with a work permit would assist her in achieving her lifelong goal of becoming a certified surgeon.

Please give Yelky this chance to prosper in America, where so many take for granted the freedoms we have. She asks only for the freedom to do what every American wishes: to dream big and achieve her goals without fear that she will be suddenly torn from her home and family. I urge you to grant her this well-deserved opportunity.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

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